So I have "hard evidence" that someone reads me! My friend and former colleague, Jim Lymper, posted a real thought provoking comment about my last post. Actually Jim makes two, as another friend and colleague, Andrew (referenced in a prior post) constantly reminds me that I take WAY too long in between posts! How about that, my audience has doubled in less than one year. Seriously, Jim makes reference to a great read by Yong Zhao called CATCHING UP OR LEADING THE WAY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNpZ60IJ42o). If you believe that, like Gotham City according to Jack Nicholson's Joker, our education system needs an enima (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Tpe-dbPQI), then you should read this book. If you believe that education is more than just scores on the test, then you need to read this book. If you believe that education has become a political tool in an election platform, then you should read this book. Basically, if you are reading this blog, then you should read this book! With that said...on with the actual blog post:
This past Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday prayer was inadvertantly brought back to public schools! You see, educators gave the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) to 11th and some 12th graders and I am quite certain that EVERYONE was praying! I have no real proof, but I am quite sure that the words, "please God...please help me (or my students) score Proficient on this test!" or something of the sort.
You see, EVERYONE will be judged by these test scores; the students, the teachers, the administration, the local school boards, state and national educational policies...and so on, because, in the minds of so many, these scores (and sadly these scores alone) define what a good schools is, or should be. The question is, is should they? The United States have been trailing the rest of the world on standardized tests since the 1960's, and politicians from Kennedy to Obama (sorry Barack) have used this to promote fear in the minds of Americans. With this, they have won elections, set policy, "upped" testing (which in turns takes away from instructional time), "upped" accountability for schools (usually without the necessary support and funding). It's been over 50 years, and regardless of the political party in power, nothing has really improved.
Some would argue that things have actually gotten worse. I, for one, believe that as we contiue to "chase the test" like a puppy chasing his tail we lose sight on what is really important in preparing the child for life after 12th grade. Is our quest for Proficiency hindering our children becoming truley prepared to be responsible citizens? In our attempt to have our students prove that they can solve a linear equation or write a poinient persuasive essay, we are forgetting about teaching to the mind, body and soul of the child. Not that these academic prerequisits are not important, but they must not be the end-all, be-all definition of a quality education. There is so much more that definds a good education, especially if you teach in a non-traditional setting, like a vocational school. It begs the question posed by Herbert Spencer (over a hundred years ago...still no good answer), which Zhao refers to in the following clip, "What knowledge is of most worth?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOXAJzqm2Rw
I think the answer to that question in as individual as the person answering it, and thus so should be the education of that individual. If we can all agree that different people have different paths in life, and thus should be prepared differently, then why are we STILL, after all these years, trying to make school a one-size-fits-all product. Take it from someone who is 6'7" and weights 280 pounds...one-size-fits-all actually doesn't!
No comments:
Post a Comment